Thence he threw himself into
the hilly country some miles to the south of the Vaal River, where
he lurked for a week or more while Lord Kitchener came south to
direct the operations which would, as it was hoped, lead to a
surrender.
Leaving the indomitable guerilla in his hiding-place, the narrative
must return to that drawing of the net which still continued in
spite of the escape of this one important fish. On all sides the
British forces had drawn closer, and they were both more numerous
and more formidable in quality. It was evident now that by a rapid
advance from Bethlehem in the direction of the Basuto border all
Boers to the north of Ficksburg would be hemmed in. On July 22nd
the columns were moving. On that date Paget moved out of Bethlehem,
and Rundle took a step forward from Ficksburg. Bruce Hamilton had
already, at the cost of twenty Cameron Highlanders, got a grip upon
a bastion of that rocky country in which the enemy lurked. On the
23rd Hunter's force was held by the Boers at the strong pass of
Retief's Nek, but on the 24th they were compelled to abandon it, as
the capture of Slabbert's Nek by Clements threatened their rear.
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